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BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
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ILOILO City – The number of Zika virus infections in Western Visayas rose to 10.
The City Health Office (CHO) yesterday confirmed two more cases, bringing the total number here to nine. Iloilo province, on the other hand, registered its first Zika case.
The two new city cases were a 42-year-old male from Barangay Magsaysay, La Paz district and 42-year-old female from Avaneña Street, Molo district, according to Dr. Bernard Caspe, CHO chief, citing information from the Department of Health (DOH).
The first case in Iloilo province, on the other hand, was a 55-year-old female from Oton town, said Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado, Provincial Health Office (PHO) chief.
The three new cases did not have history of travel to any Zika-affected country a month prior to the onset of their illness, according to DOH.
All cases exhibited skin rashes with any one of the following: fever, muscle or joint pains, conjunctivitis without eye discharge.
The patients have recovered from their mild illness, said DOH.
CHO’s Caspe admitted having limited information on the new cases. He said he would be getting more data from DOH.
Caspe believed the two cases were hospitalized and perhaps their doctors suggested that they take the Zika test.
Blood or urine samples were likely sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), said Caspe.
According to DOH yesterday, it was the RITM that informed the department about the new cases.
CHO will ask DOH about the specific locations of the new cases, said Caspe. Vector surveillance, pulong-pulong (forums) and “inside residual spraying” may be carried out in these locations.
The previous Zika cases in this city were in Barangay Benedicto, Jaro district; Barangay San Juan, Molo; and barangays Santa Cruz and Santo Domingo in Arevalo district.
12 ZIKA CASES ACROSS PH IN 2016
DOH has so far recorded 12 Zika cases in the country this year – 10 from Western Visayas and one each from Central Visayas and the National Capital Region.
According to Health secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial, of the 12 cases eight were females.
The patients’ ages ranged between nine to 55 years old, she added.
The Health chief also disclosed that the 22-year-old confirmed case from Cebu was also 19 weeks pregnant with her first child.
Initial ultrasound did not detect any fetal abnormalities, said Ubial.
The woman will be monitored regularly during the entire period of the pregnancy, she added.
Since the Zika cases were discovered in Iloilo City two weeks ago, CHO and DOH have been carrying out indoor residual spraying coupled with fogging.
The Zika virus is primarily transmitted via mosquito bites. The Aedes egypti is responsible for spreading the virus – the same mosquito that also transmits dengue and chikungunya viruses.
In Brazil and other countries, pregnant women who got infected at anytime during their pregnancy gave birth to babies with congenital defects affecting the brain (microcephaly).
Sex was also reported as another means of getting the Zika virus.
“Tandaan na lahat ng sakit na ito – Zika, dengue at chikunguya – ay galing sa lamok. Apat na bagay lang ang dapat nating tandaan upang ang lamok ay maiwasan. Ugaliin nating gawin ang 4S sa ating komunidad para maprotektahan ang ating pamilya at mahal sa buhay,” said Secretary Ubial.
The 4S means (1) search and destroy mosquito breeding places, (2) self-protection measures like using insect repellants and mosquito nets especially at day time, (3) seek early consultation for skin rashes and fever, joint pain or red eyes, and (4) say “yes” to fogging when there is an impending outbreak.”/PN
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